Shamrock Rovers show their class with second-half blitz of Bohemians at sold-out Tallaght Stadium

Shamrock Rovers enjoyed that sensation here, delighting the majority of the 10,094 crowd, the biggest turnout for a regular league game this century and in Dublin since 1990, with a second half destruction of their fiercest rivals.

Instead of hanging around to be kept in afterwards, swathes of the Bohs fanbase made an early departure to digest the reality that Alan Reynolds has a lot of work to do to bring his new employers close to the standard bearers.

They succeeded in making life difficult for 45 minutes before Rovers lifted their intensity levels to quickly put the game out of sight so they could rest legs ahead of their trek to Waterford on Monday.

The powers that be in Tallaght can reflect with satisfaction over the weekend too, having crossed the 10,000 threshold in their first Dublin derby in the league since the North Stand was opened over the winter.

Club sources indicated that ticket revenue and shop and match night revenue will be worth more to the champions than the €125,000 they collected from the FAI for winning the league in 2023, a statistic that is revealing on so many levels.

For the chasing pack, it highlights what Rovers are capable of doing if they can get things right. That comment could equally extend to their playing performances this term.

In theory, this was a good time for Bohs to face the champions.

With Rory Gaffney added to an injury list that includes Jack Byrne, Aaron McEneff and Neil Farrugia, and Trevor Clarke only fit for a spot on the bench, Stephen Bradley started this game devoid of several A-listers.

Granted, they have strength in depth that other managers would kill for, but it’s still a diminished version of the team that has won four leagues on the bounce.

Buoyed by a win over Derry with interim boss Derek Pender in charge, Bohs were plugged in from the outset here with Reynolds active on the sideline, pressing hard to try and nick the ball from the Rovers back three in the early stages and almost yielding a return.

There was also a case for a penalty when a Jevon Mills header struck the arm of Daniel Cleary but there were no shouts from the visiting players.

Josh Honohan, a winter recruit from Cork City, has played all across the back five at this stage and is learning about left wing back now. He won his battle with Dylan Connolly here, with Lee Grace helping to nullify his speed.

It was clear, however, that Bohs were concentrated on the threat presented by the in-form Darragh Burns on the other side, starting with a back four but always instructing a midfielder to fall back to keep tabs on the MK Dons loanee when Rovers had the ball.

The task mostly fell to Dayle Rooney, but James Clarke, Bohs central playmaker, subbed in at one stage when Rooney was occupied.

For all of that, though, the best chance of the first half fell to Burns when Bohs were committed and Cleary lofted a ball over the top for a direct run and shot that Kacper Chorazka pushed over the bar.

Bohs overplayed a couple of their better opportunities, but the travelling fans had reason to be encouraged at the break.

That optimism was dead inside seven minutes as Rovers lifted the intensity. Ponderous defending from a Honohan cross allowed Dylan Watts to take aim with his errant shot controlled and finished by Johnny Kenny with Paddy Kirk playing the Sligo native onside.

He was hit and miss in his attempts to lead the line in the first half, but he finished this opportunity confidently. Before Bohs could respond, they conceded another.

Strong running from Kenny and a hopeful ball across the box by the increasingly influential Burke took a deflection that Burns anticipated quicker than Rooney with the former St Patrick’s Athletic player finishing with power and precision.

That was game over, in truth. Rovers’ experience in defensive areas was never going to let the visitors back into this, and they were cute enough when it came to cutting down counter attacks efficiently.

It became a damage limitation exercise for the guests when American centre half Aboubacar Keita was outmuscled by sub Aaron Greene with the veteran sticking out a left foot to convert a Darragh Nugent cross and pile on the Bohs misery.

Reynolds withdrew Keita in the aftermath, with the 23-year-old opting against shaking the hand of his replacement James McManus.

Chorazka did at least manage to finish the game on a high with a fine stop from Richie Towell as Rovers went in search of more. Declan McDaid did pull one back with the last kick of the game but for Bohs it provided no consolation.

Shamrock Rovers: Pohls, Cleary, Lopes, Grace; Burns (Clarke 81), O’Neill (Poom 57), Watts (Towell 70), Honohan; Nugent, Burke (Noonan 81); Kenny (Greene 70).

Bohemians: Chorazka, Lilander, Mills, Keita (McManus 76), Kirk; Flores, McDonnell (B McManus 64); Connolly (Grant 64), Clarke, Rooney; Akintunde (McDaid 70).

Referee: Rob Harvey.